The Next Food Network Star: West Chester's very own Katie Cavuto!

Calling all foodies!

The Next Food Network Star (Season 5) premieres this Sunday, June 7th! And, one of the 10 finalists is a local woman named Katie Cavuto who was raised right here in West Chester, PA!

Katie Cavuto grew up in West Chester with her mother (Jeanne - a teacher at Stetson Middle School where Katie went) and father (Robert - owner of Carpets by Cavuto) as well as her three siblings. Her parents have been married for 35 years; they are very active at their church (St. Maximilian Kolbe Church).

Katie Cavuto was a gymnast since the age of three, and she competed through high school. She was on the Junior Olympic National team in 1997. She was injured several times and was not able to continue competing in college.

Years of competitive gymnastics sparked her interest in nutrition. She developed her passion for food and cooking at Goose Creek Grill in West Chester, Pa. She graduated from Johnson and Wales University with a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition and an Associates of Science in Culinary Arts. She went on to get her Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition at Tufts University where she also attended the Frances Stern Nutrition Center and earned her degree as a Registered Dietitian.

Now, at the age of 30, she owns Healthy Bites, LLC out of Philadelphia – a company that offers in-home nutrition and culinary services, organic meal delivery service, and community/private cooking lessons. She has been doing this since June 2002, but she officially incorporated it in March 2008. Her idea of “Green Cuisine” is about feeding your body through the quality of the ingredients (organic, healthy foods) as well as decreasing your carbon footprint (buy locally and buy organic). It is her mission to use her knowledge and skills to show others how easy and fun it can be to live a healthy lifestyle. To Katie, a diet is temporary, but a lifestyle is lasting.

Visit www.foodnetwork.com/star to see behind the scenes of the show and Katie.

Sarah and I are going to be interviewing Katie on Thursday. Please leave a comment and let us know what questions you'd like us to ask her for you! We'll post all of her answers here on Friday! And, we just may have a special Food Network giveaway for you then too! Hint, Hint!

We can't wait to chat with her and get a behind-the-scenes view of The Next Food Network Star workings!

It's All About the Shoes!

Did you know that Olly has a Shoe Donation Program???

Children's feet grow at such a great rate. Consider donating your kids' gently worn shoes at any OLLY location. However, outworn shoes should NOT be donated to this program. It is important that each child's foot is able to make its own impression (footprint) in the shoe footbed.

This is a not-for-profit program. OLLY will distribute these shoes to local charities where OLLY retail stores exist and will also work with charities and associations that distribute items overseas to children who are in great need of footwear.

And, here's another exciting tip for those wildly popular Crocs that everyone has (there are 5 pairs in my home as I type this)...... Olly participates in a recycling program for all Crocs shoes! Just drop them off in the store, and Olly will take care of the rest! Yay! No Crocs going into the landfills!

There are several Olly locations in the local area. Click here to see the store closest to you!

Drumroll, Please!

Well, we've wrapped up our Green Week giveaway contests as well as selected the winner of the Zing Zang Zoom Circus passes. So, without further ado... here are the lucky winners....

My Natural Bamboo Plush Panda: Kerrie Lyons

Bee-Eazy Bags: Jennifer Groben and Jennifer Redmile

Wool Worth It Bitty Bag and Accessories: Rachel Byerly

Lil Boo & Co. Boo Boo Cubes: Kate Hargrove, Steph, Caitlin, Chris Stulak, and Jen

Footprints Bamboo socks: Shannon Kamph

Soap-It Nuts: Laura Lunati

and, last but certainly not least, the winner of the family 4 pack of tickets to the opening night of the Zing Zang Zoom circus tickets is: Susan Ford

***Winners will be emailed within the next 24 hours to set up the exchange of your prize!

Bee-Eazy Bag Give Away - 2 Winners!

Bee-Eazy bags have an innovative design, offering the best features available in a reusable bag. They are easily opened and ready to use in seconds - significantly reducing single-use bag waste. Each bag conveniently clips to your purse, belt, keys or shopping cart. Bee-Eazy bags are attractive, affordable, and designed to be unforgettable.

Bee-Eazy original bags have an innovative design, offering the best features available in a reusable bag. They are easily opened and ready to use in seconds - significantly reducing single-use bag waste. Bee-Eazy Bags are made of durable Nylon and are water resistant. Each bag holds the equivalent capacity of 20 lbs (just about 3 gallons of milk)

Click here to order your Bee-Eazy reusable bag. Enter the coupon code "BeeGreen" to save on orders of Five or more bags. Discount applied during checkout. For more information on Bee-Eazy Bags visit http://www.bee-eazybags.com/

One small change can make a big difference... it's just that easy!

We are giving away 2 Bee-Eazy Bags. 1 yellow and 1 black. Enter to win 1 of the bags by leaving a comment below or emailing contests (at) chestercountymoms.com and enter Bee-Eazy in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, May 1st at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

Reusable Dry Cleaning Bag from A Green Day.org - GIVE AWAY

This 100% Organic Reusable Dry Cleaning Garment bag is for the consumer

who likes to keep it eco-friendly.

Tired of the waste that comes from every visit to the dry cleaners..? Darleen Reilly was. That is why she designed the reusable dry cleaning garment bag that can be reused over and over again. The way it works it you place your bag upside down on a hook placing your soiled clothes in the bag. Once your ready to return to the dry cleaners you deliver the soiled clothes in the bag leaving the bag with the clothes only to have your clean items returned in your very own bag eliminating the use of plastics in the dry cleaning industry. The simple and easy way of going green.

Agreenday.org is committed in providing products that can reduce waste, Eco Friendly, Sustainable, Recyclable and all made in the USA.


1 LUCKY Chester County reader will win a 100% Organic Cotton reusable drycleaning bag from Agreenday.org, valued at $55. Enter to win by leaving a comment below or emailing contests (at) chestercountymoms.com and enter Dry Cleaning Bag in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, May 1st at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

This is the last of our fabulous Earth Week Give Aways...Want extra entries??

(1) Extra entry - Join the Chester County Moms Group on Facebook (make sure to let us know you would like to enter the A Green Day.org Reuseable Dry Cleaning Bag contest)

(1) Extra Entry - Friend ChescoMoms on FB and update your FB status to...Chesco Moms are giving away an awesome reusable dry cleaning bag worth $55 at Chester County Moms. Click on this link and enter to win. http://tinyurl.com/cwqg4q

(1) Extra Entry - Follow ChescoMoms on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway! (DM us and let us know you would like to enter the A Green Day.org Reuseable Dry Cleaning Bag contest. Just remember to include this is a contest for Chesco Residents in your tweet.)

(1) Extra Entry - Blog about this giveaway! Don't forget to link Chester County Moms & A Green Day.org in your blog post (email* us so we know about your post don't forget to include your URL.)

(1) Extra Entry - Follow us at Chester County Moms (if you're already a follower...that counts too! Let us know via email*)

(1) Extra Entry - Subscribe to Chester County Moms Feed Blitz (if your already subscribe..let us know via email!* There is a link to sign up on the right side bar.)

(1) Extra Entry - Put the Chester County Moms button on your blog (let us know the URL where we can find it...and if you have it already...just let us know via email*...it still counts!)

*Our EMAIL - contests@chestercountymoms.com (Subject-Dry Cleaning Bag)

SHE with the most entries wins!

Soap -It Nuts Give Away

Soap-it Nuts are non-toxic & biodegradable. They have no optical brighteners, no petro-chemical compounds, no dyes, no phenols, no fragrances, and no phosphates. Soap Nuts are truly sustainable because they grow on trees and are harvested every year. They will effectively clean your clothes, leaving them fresh and soft. Say good-bye to all that commercial laundry detergent that is harmful to you and our environment. They are economical and easy to use, even if they are ugly.

*Safe on any fabric
*Economical and easy to use
*No plastic containers made from petroleum!
*No need for fabric softener.
*Soap-it Nuts will safely & effectively clean your clothes, leaving them fresh and soft.

*Soap nuts are great for pet shampoo, jewelry cleaning, household cleaning, car washing, and can also be used as a natural pesticide. Click here to learn more.

So what exactly is a ‘soap nut’? It is the dried fruit of the Sapindus Mukossi tree that grows in India and Nepal. This fruit of the tree produces ‘Saponin” a natural cleanser which is a 100% alternative to ‘commercial’ detergent. They are allergy-free and have been used for hundreds of years on all types of fabric in other countries. Soap-it Nuts are highly effective, gentle and cost effective. Our Soap-it Nuts leave laundry clean and their mildness will keep your clothes soft. The fabric structure of your clothes is maintained for longer periods because they are so gentle. They can be used on all types of fabric in any temperature. No fabric softener is necessary because the Soap-it Nuts leave your clothes naturally soft.

How do I to Use Soap-it Nuts? It is easy to use Soap-it Nuts. Simply put 3-4 nuts or shells in the cloth bag provided and throw them in with your wash. They work best in a warm-water wash and cold rinse. Wash clothes as usual. Pull the cloth bag out before you put your clothes in the dryer. Your clothes will be clean, fresh and soft. Use 3-4 nuts for a large load up to 3-4 times. You’ll be amazed.will cut through dirt and grease of even heavily soiled clothes. A liquid soap can easily be made from the nuts and is wonderful for HE machines, cold-water washes or washing dishes.

Enter to win 1 bag of Soap-It nuts (enough for approx. 60 loads of laundry) by leaving a comment below or emailing contests (at) chestercountymoms.com. and enter Soap- It Nuts in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, May 1st at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

Footprints Bamboo Give Away

Footprint bamboo active wear offers sensationally soft and eco-friendly organic bamboo clothing, socks, underwear and accessories. How is this possible? Bamboo pulp, when spun, creates a silky fiber that feels like cashmere yet it's easy to care for as its machine washable.

Bamboo clothing has become the natural, environmentally friendly solution for athletic and active wear. It inherently guards against unwanted moisture, bacteria, odor & UV rays. As avid outdoor-sports people, we understand the importance of our clothing to be comfortable & functional. Footprints Bamboo socks has also developed a devoted following of people with diabetes who were searching for diabetic socks and have found our seamless, moisture wicking Bamboo Diabetic Socks. Footprint Bamboo clothing & Bamboo socks deliver performance, comfort and affordability! When you wear the Footprint logo, you demonstrate that you are doing your part in leaving a good impression too.

Why Bamboo?Because it's...

Buttery Soft

Antibacterial
Moisture Wicking
Breathable

Odorless

Organic

Footprint Bamboo active wear is available in Chester County at Fairman's, Exton Bicycle, Hotfoot Cycles, and West Chester Bicycle Center.

Enter to win 1 pair of eco-friendly unisex socks (size small - ladies 5-8.5/mens 4-9) by leaving a comment below or emailing contests (at) chestercountymoms.com. and enter Footprint in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, May 1st at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

Win a Boo Boo Cube from Lil Boo & Co.!

Congratulations to our Lil Boo & Co. Boo Boo Cubes give away winners: Kate Hargrove, Steph, Caitlin, Chris Stulak, and Jen.


Five readers will have the chance to win a Boo Boo Cube™ from Lil Boo & Co.!

I know what you're thinking...what in the world is a Boo Boo Cube™?!

Well...does your child have a boo boo, bump or bruise that needs some extra care? Place the Boo Boo Cube™ on the "ouchie" and it'll feel all better!

Made with soft flannel cotton fabric and filled with only the best high quality rice, the Boo Boo Cube™ can be frozen or heated in the microwave to suit your child's "boo boo" needs!

Place in the freezer for a safe, non-toxic cold pack and grab it anytime a boo boo happens (a nice alternative to the toxic gel packs...that often leak)! The Boo Boo Cube™ distributes the "cold" evenly without the burning sensation of a bare ice cube or the drippy mess of a cold rag. The Boo Boo Cube™ can also be placed in the microwave for 30 seconds for a soothing warm therapy bag for sore muscles, backaches or even headaches (some moms say that they even used them when they were breastfeeding for a clogged milk duct and soreness)! There's endless uses for the Boo Boo Cube™! And when you're done with it, just toss it back in the freezer until the next time you need it!

Lil Boo & Co. is offering 5 Boo Boo Cubes to give away to 5 Chester County Moms! The winners get to choose their choice of fabric as well. Click HERE to see all the designs.

Lil Boo & Co. is an Etsy shop owned by a local Philadelphia mom!

To enter this contest please leave a comment below or email contests(at)chestercountymoms.com and enter Boo Boo Cube in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, April 24th at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

Remember...there will be FIVE winners!!

Bitty Bag and Accessories from Wool Worth It: Giveaway!!!

Win an adorable Bitty Bag by Wool Worth It for yourself or a special girl in your life! We're also including both a coordinating pin (to create another matching purse/clutch or to adorn your favorite sweater or jacket) and hair barrette!

What makes Wool Worth It™ products unique is simply that their items are works of art in addition to being everyday items that are well-made and functional. More than that, their products are ‘green’. The line uses mostly recycled and repurposed wool that would otherwise go to landfills. Also, new materials that are used come almost entirely from natural and renewable sources.

Most of the items are one-of-a-kind, and are carefully designed from materials they’ve acquired over time and then carefully crafted individually to create unique and harmonious compositions.

Being a steward of the world and our environment is critical to this company. Their products are green and are often crafted from repurposed materials, lowering our impact on the earth and using less scarce resources. Additionally, they donate a portion of all profits to well-run organizations that support entrepreneurship in the developing world or which preserve threatened wildlife habitats.

Good luck!

To enter this contest please leave a comment below or email contests(at)chestercountymoms.com and enter Bitty Bag in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, April 24th at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

My Natural Bamboo Plush Panda - Give Away

This is the first in our week long Earth Week give aways. This adorable eco-friendly panda is 9” and is not only silky-soft to the touch, but the bamboo fabric itself has many amazing properties. Bamboo is one of the most sustainable materials in the world and absorbs more carbon dioxide and releases more oxygen than any other plant on earth.

It’s naturally antibacterial and reduces allergy levels, and because of the all-natural PureWaterWash™ coloring process, this lovable toy is safe for your little ones to chew on.

My Natural Bamboo Collection, is available exclusively at Barnes and Noble.

To enter this contest please leave a comment below or email contests(at)chestercountymoms.com and enter Bamboo Panda in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, April 24th at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

Earth Week: Giveaways Galore!!!

Wednesday, April 22nd is Earth Day! To celebrate this wonderful day of recognition, we are having a big, ol' Earth Week giveaway blowout!!!

Starting on Monday, check back for multiple daily "green" giveaways that are sure to sure to delight your inner "Mother Nature"!

It's gonna be BIG! So, make sure you check back on Monday for your opportunity to win lots of great, green gear!

Sun & Earth Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations to Erika and ahillestad, the winners of our Sun & Earth goodie bag giveaway! We hope you enjoy using all of the fantastic Sun & Earth cleaning products that are coming your way!

Mark your calendars for our Earth Day week of green giveaways! You won't want to miss it!

Sun & Earth GIVEAWAY!!!

Last week, The Chester County Moms Blog was invited to the Sun & Earth offices in King of Prussia, PA to meet with their AWESOME team and get a very fun, kid-oriented tour of the plant where they manufacture all of their safe, natural, non-toxic cleaning products. Our kids even got to decorate their own bottles of Sun & Earth All Purpose Spray Cleaner and watch their bottles go down the filling line!

Sun & Earth is serious about the environment! After many years of watching advertisements claiming that petro-chemicals with mysterious names were the best way to clean house, Sun & Earth set out to prove that non-toxic cleaners can clean as well or better than more well-known national brands. They knew people wanted products made with non-toxic ingredients that didn't sacrifice performance. After extensive research, they developed cleaners that clean and shine beautifully and have an appealing fresh citrus scent. Their cleaning agents are from plant, fruit and vegetable oils that are non-toxic to your family and safe for the Earth.

Not only are their products environmentally friendly and safe for our families as well as incomparably effective, but Sun & Earth is a local company. By purchasing their fantastic range of products, you are getting all of the benefits of supporting a local business AND further helping the earth by not buying products that had to be shipped from great distances just to reach you. You can find Sun & Earth products locally at area Giant and Acme markets. You can also purchase Sun & Earth products directly from their website! Don't have Sun & Earth products in your local market??? Request it by name!

We'd love for you to give Sun & Earth products a try... we KNOW you won't be disappointed. In fact, we have an awesome Sun & Earth goodie bag to give away to 2 lucky Chester county Moms Blog readers! This bag is stuffed with full-size bottles of many of Sun & Earth's best selling products, including:

Sun & Earth All Purpose Spray Cleaner

Sun & Earth 2X Concentrated Laundry Detergent

Sun & Earth Ultra Fabric Softener

"New" Sun& Earth Xtra Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid

Sun & Earth Liquid Hand Soap

Sun & Earth Dishwasher Detergent Pacs

Sun & Earth On the Spot! Instant Stain Remover

And, all of this comes in a fantastic reusable, foldable Sun & Earth Bag!

**These giveaway bags are valued at over $45, folks! Don't miss out on a chance to win these fantastic cleaning products. All you need to do is leave us a comment in this post telling us your favorite Sun & Earth product. If you haven't tried them out yet, take a peek at their website, and tell us what product you'd most like to try first! Make sure your entry has your email address included, please!

This giveaway will close on Tuesday, March 24th at Midnight. The 2 lucky winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 25th. This contest is open to Chester County residents only. One entry per person. All duplicate entries will be deleted. And, again, please remember to include your email in your post!**

Good luck and safe cleaning!

What a Glorious Green Day!

Sarah and I went into Philly today for an awesome Green Event. Nope, not the Philadelphia St. Patty's Day parade, although we did see plenty of revelers on the train ..... we went to the Go Green Expo at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. We met with a variety of innovative vendors that have safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly products and services for all areas of your life. It was such an informative afternoon!

We have so much we want to pass along to our readers about many of these companies and their awesome goods. So, for now, here is a list of the companies that we met today that we'd love for you to know more about. Stay tuned for product reviews, interviews, and, of course, some AMAZING giveaways for our loyal Chester County Moms Blog readers from many of these companies! We will begin featuring them very soon!

Agreenday.org

Atayne

Bee Eazy Bags

BITS Limited

Boho Magazine

Candles by Claire

Earth Care Market

Earth Mart

Footprint

GreenDepot

Green Lifestyles on Planet Paradise

greensender.com

Green Vision Arts

Grid Magazine

Guyot Designs

Klean Kanteen

Lola Babiez Organics

Lyfve

Mr. Ellie Pooh

Sun & Earth

The EcoSeekers

This is Your Earth

TLC Candles

Tymel Style

We Add Up

zipgoesgreen.com

Thanks to all of the great people we met today who took time out of their schedules to talk to Sarah and I. We look forward to continuing our conversations......

Sun & Earth Photo Contest

Do you use Sun & Earth products because they are green and organic? Or is it because they are kid and pet friendly? Or is it because the products clean so well? Whatever the reason, submit a photo and a caption that shows why you love Sun & Earth and you could WIN. The monthly winner will get their photo displayed on the Sun & Earth home page as well as a month supply of Sun & Earth products.

Click here to enter the Sun & Earth Photo Contest.

Going Green - 6 Ways To Save Gas

As a former Automotive Industry Insider. I am always trying to stay current on daily automotive news. The Mommy bloggers at Chester County Moms have added a new segment to our blog... Going Green. In the spirit of merging my dealership background and personal ecological responsibility I invite you to visit Green DrivingUSA.com to better understand what dealers are doing — and what you can do — to reduce greenhouse gases.

1. Avoid quick starts and aggressive driving. A smooth, steady speed saves gasoline and reduces wear and tear on the engine, tires, transmission and brakes.
2. Slow down! Fuel economy decreases about 1% for each mph over 55. Driving 65 mph vs. 75 miles mph, for example, increases fuel economy by about 10%.
3. Use overdrive and cruise control. Overdrive gears slow engine speeds, saving gasoline and reducing wear. By helping to maintain a constant speed, cruise control reduces gasoline consumption. Use both features only when safe and appropriate.
4. Combine trips when possible. Your engine runs more efficiently once it’s warmed up, so avoid making multiple short trips. Stop-and-go driving also burns more gasoline. Avoid driving during rush hour whenever you can.
5. Reduce drag. Remove roof racks, tow-hook carriers, and other items from your vehicle that cause wind resistance.
6. Avoid unnecessary idling. In addition to contributing to engine wear and tear and air pollution, consider that when your vehicle is idling, you are getting 0 miles per gallon of gasoline you use.

Going Green

The Mommy Bloggers at Chester County Moms are Going Green